'Trump treated Asim Munir like a mistress who...': Why Pakistanis are mocking Army chief, Shehbaz Sharif over India-US trade deal

File photo of Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir meeting US President Donald Trumpo at the White House.

• India secured a US tariff cut to 18% after talks, sparking ridicule in Pakistan over its own failed efforts. Social media users mocked leaders for diplomatic shortcomings, contrasting India’s trade successes with Pakistan’s continued high tariffs and failed strategies.

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As India and the United States announced a major trade breakthrough, Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership found itself at the receiving end of sharp public ridicule at home. Pakistani social media erupted with sarcasm and anger after US President Donald Trump revealed that tariffs on Indian goods would be cut to 18 percent following a phone call with Narendra Modi.

The contrast was not lost on Pakistanis, who pointed out that while India secured tariff relief through negotiations, Pakistan continues to face higher duties despite months of overtures to Washington. Much of the mockery was directed at Army Chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whom critics accused of diplomatic failure and misplaced priorities.

‘Like a mistress’: Viral jibes at Asim Munir

One of the most widely shared posts came from Pakistani X user Umar Ali, who used an explicit metaphor to describe how Trump treated Pakistan’s army chief.

“Donald Trump has treated the Field Marshal like that mistress who makes her lover do all the illegal and dirty work, and when the time comes to give or take something, she says I am compelled to obey my family’s decision, forget me. My body will remain my husband’s, but my soul will always remain yours,” he wrote, sharing an AI-generated image of Munir holding a box of minerals against an India Today magazine cover featuring Modi and Trump.

ڈونلڈ ٹرمپ نے فیلڈ مارشل کے ساتھ اُس محبوبہ جیسا سلوک کیا ہے جو عاشق سے سارے غیر قانونی اور گھٹیا کام کرواتی ہے اور جب کچھ دینے دلانے کا ٹائم آئے تو کہتی ہے میں گھر والوں کا فیصلہ ماننے پر مجبور ہوں مجھے بھول جاؤ ۔ میرا جسم تو میرے شوہر کا رہے گا لیکن روح ہمیشہ تمہاری ہی رہے گی ۔ pic.twitter.com/YIMI0zNoZK

— Umar Ali (@Umar_AliX) February 3, 2026

The reference was widely interpreted as a jab at Pakistan’s repeated attempts to woo Washington by highlighting its rare earth mineral reserves, a strategy that ultimately failed to yield tariff relief.

‘No kowtowing, no nobel games’: Comparisons with India

Other Pakistani users mocked the contrast between India’s trade diplomacy and Pakistan’s approach. Jungjoo Gernail, a parody account of Asim Munir, pointed to India’s recent trade successes.

“In the past 6 months, India concluded free trade agreements with the European Union, United Kingdom, Oman and New Zealand, and now gets Trump tariffs reduced to 18%—all without getting into anyone’s bund or nominating anyone for Nobel Prize,” the account tweeted.

Trump had earlier shared the January cover of India Today featuring himself and Modi, further fuelling Pakistani anger over what many saw as Islamabad’s diminished standing.

Imran Khan supporters turn the knife

Much of the criticism came from supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan and his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, who accuse the current leadership of running an illegitimate government.

“So after all the appeasement of epic proportions by this imposed regime to Trump even accepting forces for Israel peace board, Pak ended up with 19% US tariffs while India have now 18% tariffs imposed by US. Great Foreign Policy achievements! (sic),” wrote X user Zubair Ahmed Khan.

Former PTI minister Hammad Azhar said Pakistan’s leadership had misunderstood modern diplomacy.

“Foreign policy in the modern era isn’t about optics or personal relationships,” Azhar wrote. “It’s about leveraging economic strength, tariffs, and market access. India’s recent trade deals with the EU and the US prove the point. Sycophancy & photo ops are useless.”

As the India-US trade deal reshapes regional economic equations, the online backlash suggests that Pakistan’s public sees the episode not just as a diplomatic setback, but as an embarrassing exposure of failed priorities at the very top.